Publisher's Summary

The one thing that could be expected to disturb the peace of life at Blandings is the incursion of imposters. Blandings has imposters like other houses have mice. On this occasion there are two of them--both intent on a dangerous enterprise.

Having either read or listened to a number of the Blandings Castle stories, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Lord Emsworth and his looney family. I guess this book was probably written early in the series, before Freddie's marriage and the introduction of "The Empress". Although it contains many of the same plot elements of other Blandings sagas, there is a lot more action "below stairs" in this one which really does make it SOMETHING FRESH.

Lighthearted fun filled with quirky characters in zany situations of misunderstandings, false identities, romantic entanglements and theft of a valuable object. This all plays out in the perfect setting of an English country manor. Reminiscent of the sparkling old ‘30s movies, I can imagine Robert Montgomery as the smart and cheeky Ashe Marson, and the rest of the cast filled with the best character actors of the day. Though the plot is feather-light, the writing is crisp and witty and completely entertaining. The mastery of language puts many contemporary writers to shame. I thoroughly enjoyed this selection.

This is not on the list of my favorite Wodehouse. Some of the series is fantastic, this one just didn't capture me at all. I particularly love Jonathan Cecil reading Wodehouse, I have most of his recordings of Wodehouse and also others reading Wodehouse and I think Cecil is the best by far. I love all of the Jeeves- particularly Thank you Jeeves, Carry On Jeeves and The Mating Season. Loved Damsel in Distress and Luck of the Bodkins. But Something Fresh just doesn't have "it."

Wodehouse is a great pleasure, and a generally underrated author. too often, when lists of great authors are made, the comic ones are disregarded, as if the art of writing humorously is a second-rate art. However, the command of language and turn-of-phrase that Wodehouse enjoyed is first rate. It is damned difficult to be consistently funny. And this, one of his greatest works, exemplifies this skill.

Jonathan Cecil does justice to Wodehouse, although not quite reaching the art that Simon Callow did - the latter's performances unfortunately not being available anywhere anymore.

I am a big Wodehouse fan but this is not one of his best novels. Still, it's an enjoyable story. It could have been lifted to be even better had the narrator been any good. Inexplicably, the producers went ahead with a narrator who can ONLY do funny old men voices. Thus, the young men sounded like old men, the young women sounded like old men, the Americans sounded like old British men, as did the servants, you get the idea. This was such a problem that I literally could not figure out which character was speaking during many of the scenes. I really cannot understand why the audiobook was allowed to be released in this condition.

I just love listening to Cecil read the rich language used by Wodehouse. The narrator is a master of voices and characters who can make the dullest butler come alive before your minds' eye, while the author himself has an uncanny knack of describing people, situations and places in a manner that would make the most magnificent painting by Michelangelo himself pale by comparison, and fellow authors like Oscar Wilde green with envy, had he been alive.

I won't give away the plot, but if you like unpredictable fictional tales with intrigue and humor all wrapped into one, while learning the rich use of the English language, then by all means, have a go at this one. I do recommend you do. Why, I practically insist you do. You'll soon hear yourself speaking like one of the upper classes, and thinking like a true aristocrat. Simple thoughts, complicated utterances.

Yes, I definitely would. It's a light, refreshing story with enough characters and twists to keep the intellect moving without being overbearing. It's perfect for lightening up -- a drive to work, doing chores. In a world full of seriousness -- this is what my heart needs to keep it in perspective.

Any additional comments?

I love the narrator. Each voice is different and has a believable character all its own. This, in addition to Wodehouse's story, just comes together perfectly to create an incredibly funny and entertaining listen.